Press

The images created by James Stanford are mesmerizing. Built upon photographs of iconic — and often long-gone — Las Vegas signs and scenery layered upon one another, the photo collages resemble mandalas, representations of the universe found in Buddhism.

And if using images of Las Vegas’ glitz to create almost spiritual iconography doesn’t represent a melding of the sacred and the profane, what would?

Stanford is a native Las Vegan and pioneering local artist whose latest exhibition, “Shimmering Zen,” highlights his nearly 40 years of work creating photo collages that become more than mere visual trickery.

The show, which debuted in London last year, will run Sept. 21 through Nov. 24 in The Studio at the Sahara West Library. A hardback book featuring 150 of Stanford’s images also will be unveiled Oct. 13 at the Neon Museum, and images by Stanford have been incorporated into a fashion show in New York City by Las Vegas-based designer David Tupaz.